Circuit controller



Dec. 8, 1931. H. w. VICKERY CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Original Filed Aug. 2,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet -l Inventor- Her-r9 W. VicKer-g, by 'm a HisALLOTfiea.

Dec. 8, 1931. w, v c y 1,835,917

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Original Filed ug. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor-Har'r- W. ViCKePg.

His Annorneg.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 HARRY W. v'rom'z, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO GMTERAL ELECTRIC comm, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCUIT CONTROLLEROriginal application filed August 2, 192B, Seriai No. 126,464. Dividedand this application filed December 27, 1929. Serial No. 416,977.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 126,464,filed Aug. 2nd, 1926. The invention relates to circuit controllers. Moreparticularly it relates to controllers of a type especially adapted foruse in connection with traffic signals. Among the objects of myinvention are, to provide a circuit controller adapted for use inconnection with a plurality of signals and having means for regulatingtheir time intervals and their relation with respect to each other.

The means for accomplishing the objects of my invention are hereinaftermore fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the controller of myinvention in perspective; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through thecommutator cylinder of the controller; Fig. 3 is a section approximatelyacross the central portion of the device taken through the carriagewhich carries the contact roller that operates in conjunction with thecommutator cylinder; Fig. 4 is a section just to the right (Fig. 1) ofthe knob by means of which the carriage shown in Fig. 3 is adjusted; andFig. 5 is a diagrammatic layout of the circuit connections employed inconnection with the device.

Refer-ring more in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 5 the source of poweris represented by the lines 2 and 3. From this line current is drawn foroperating the traffic signals R, A, and G, for operating the motor M,and for operating the relays 4, 5 and 6. The function of the motor is torotate the shaft 7, and through gears a commutator cylinder which isconstructed with two metallic sections 8 and 9, which sections arediagonally cut and insulated from each other and from the frame, asindicated in Fig. 2. Associated with the commutator is a brush 10 in theform of a roller on the end of the shaft 11 (see Fig. 3). This brushdevice is mounted on a carriage 12 (see Fig. l), which is adapted to heslid along the rods 13 and 14 through the medium of the knob 15 and rack16. The shaft 11, Fig. 3, extends through the carriage 12 and isjournaled in a metal bearing 17, which passes through the. frame 12 ofthe carriage and is in intimate metallic contact with a metal block 18.This block is provided with a metallic frame 19, to which latter aspring is pivotally secured by means of the pin 21. Between the spring20 and the frame 19 is a compression spring 22, which serves to maintainthe spring 20 in contact with a pin 11 which passes through the shaft 11just below the spring 20, thus insuring good electrical connectionbetween the spring 20 and the roller 10. Roller 10 is mounted on ametallic pin on the lower end of the shaft 11, which pin serves as abearing for the roller 10.

As shown in Fig. 3, the forward end of the spring 20 is provided with acontact 23 which operates in connection with a corresponding contact 24secured to a pin 25. The arrangement is such that connection is causedto be made and broken between the contacts 23 and 24 by the commutatoras it rotates relatively to roller 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the contactsare in engagement and therefore a circuit connection is closed betweenthe spring 20 and the pin 25, and consequently, also between the pin 25and the metallic block 18. Pin 25 is connected with a conductor 26, andblock 18 is connected with a conductor 27.

Referring to the commutator, the se ent 8 is provided with a brush 28,see Flgs. 2, 4 and 5. This brush is connected with conductors 29 and 30,Fig. 5. The other segment 9 of the commutator is provided with a pair ofbrushes 31. Two brushes are provided merely for insuring contact betweenthe conductor 32 and the commutator element 9. The brushes 31 rub alongthe end of the cylinder 9, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 2, while thebrush 28 is arranged to rub along the side of the cylinder 8.

As shown in Fig. 5, the signals R, A and G are all connected on one sideto the conductor 3, while on the opposite side they are connectedrespectively with contacts 33, 34 and 35 of the relays 4, 5 and 6. Eachof these relays 4, 5 and 6 is preferably in the form of a solenoid, andeach is therefore provided with a plunger 36. Each plunger carries apair of circuit closing contacts each insulated from the other; forexample,

the relay 4 is provided with contacts 37 and 38, relay 5 with contacts39 and 40, and relay 6 with contacts 41 and 42. The contact 38 hasassociated with it a pair of contacts 43 and 44, the contact 40 a pairof contacts 45 and 46, and the contact 42 a pair of contacts 47 and 48.Associated with the contact 37, there are contacts 33 and 49; withcontact 39 there are contacts 34 and 50; and with contact 41 there arecontacts 35 and 51. Therefore, as indicated, when the relay 4 isenergized the contacts 33 and 49 are electrically connected through thecontact 37, and connection broken between contacts 43 and 44. However,when the relay 4 is deenergized, connection is broken between contacts33 and 49, and connection is closed between the contacts 43 and 44 bythe contact 38. When the relay 5 is energized both connectionscontrolled by the contacts 39 and 40 are closed as shown in Fig. 5 andwhen the relay is deenergized both connections are opened. The operationof the relay 6 is the same as that of the relay 4, that is, when thisrelay is energized contact 41 closes the circuit between contacts 51 and35, and contact 42 breaks the circuit between contacts 47 and 48, andwhen this relay deenergizes the reverse condition results.

I will now describe more in detail the operation of the circuits. Assumethat the contact roller 10 is in engagement with the segment 8 when theswitch X is first closed. Motor M is started over conductors 53 and 53on one side and conductor 3 on the other. Also the relay 6 will becomeenergized over conductors 53 and 27, contact 10, segment 8 and conductor29, with the result that one of the two circuits of the relay 4, thatis, the circuit between the contacts 47 and 48, is opened. At the sametime the circuit for the signal G is closed between the contacts 35 and51, thus causing the operation of the signal G over conductor 53.

As the motor continues to operate the edge of segment 8 advances towardcontact 10 and finally contacLlO descends 1nto the space between the twosegments 8 and 9. As a result contacts 23 and 24 are closed, therebycausing the energization of relay 5 over conductors 53 and 27, contacts23 and 24, and conductor 26 on one side and conductor 26' on the other.Relay 5 closes the circuit for the signal A at the contacts 50 and 34from the line 2, over conductor 53 on one side and back to line 3 on theother, thereby operating the signal A. At the same time the relay 5closes a holding circuit for the relay 6 by way of conductor 53,contacts 46 and 45 of relay 5, contacts 43 and 44 of relay 4 andconductors 30 and 29, thus hold ing the relay 6 energized after thesegment 8 leaves the contact 10 and preventing its esser? deenergizationuntil the segment 9 strikes the contact 10.

When the segment 9, advancing, strikes the contact 10, it closes acircuit through the relay 4 by way of the segment 9 and the contact 10over conductors 53, 27 and 32, and winding of relay 4, to line 3 therebyenergiz-ing relay 4. At the same time the contacts 2 3 and 24 areseparated causing the deenergization of relay 5. As a result of theenergization of relay 4 the holding circuit for the relay 6 is brokenbetween the contacts 43 and 44, thereby retiring the signal G. At thesame time the circuit for the signal R across conductors 2 and 3 isclosed by way of the contacts 33 and 49, whereupon the signal R appears.Since the circuit of relay 5 is interrupted as indicated, and since ittherefore deenergizes, the signal A retires. The deenergization of therelay 5 also breaks the holding circuit of the relay 6 at a secondpoint, that is, between the contacts 45 and 46. I As the segment 9continues to advance under the contact 10 the signal R persists. Whenthe space between the segments 9 and 8 is reached, the contacts 23 and24 again engage, energizing the relay 5 and 'once more operating thesignal A by closing the circuit between the contacts 34 and 50. At thesame time a holding circuit for relay 4 is established by way ofconductor 53, contacts 46 and 45,

conductor 57, contacts 48 and 47, conductor 55, winding of relay 4 andconductor 26. The holding circuit prevents the deenergization of therelay 4 until segment 8 reaches contact 10. When segment 8 strikes thecontact 10 the energizing circuit for the relay 6 is again closed asbefore by way of the contact 10 and the segment 8. At the same time thecircuit for the relay 5 is broken between the contacts 23 and 24, whenthe contact 10 rides upon the segment 8, and causes their separation.The result of this last is that the signal A is again retired and theholding circuit for relay 4 is broken, thus retiring signal R. Theenergization of relay 6 on the other hand causes the appearance at thesame time of the signal G and the rupture of the holding circuit for therelay 4 at the second point that is between the contacts 47 and 48.

The above operation of the relays 4, 5 and 6 is repeated as long as themotor continues to rotate the segments 8 and 9, thus operating thesignals R, A, G in the order described, the signal A appearing justbefore the signal G is retired and appearing also just before the signalR is retired. In other words, signal A is operated twice during eachcycle of operation in which the G signal is operated once and the Rsignal is operated once.

For the gurpose of regulating the speed of the motor, provide therheostat S in connection with the motor, and by this means the length ofthe signals can be varied without changing the relation of their timeintervals.

' However, as is well known, the relation of the time intervals shouldbe changed as the traffic conditions change and for this purpose Iprovide means for changing the ratio of the time intervals. This may beaccomplished by moving one of the segments with respect to the other andby adjusting the roller 10 axially along segments 8 and 9. With thearrangement shown I provide means for moving the segment 9 with respectto the segment 8. As indicated in Fig. 2, the segments 8 and 9 aremounted on cores 60 and 61 of insulating material. These cores aremounted on the shaft 7 which is driven by the motor M and arranged torotate therewith. The core 60 is permanently secured to the shaft 7 Thiscore is also provided with a rod 62, which is embedded in the core 60.The core 61 is provided with a similar rod 63 which is embedded in thecore 61. In the care 61 there is a bore into which the rod 62 projectsand within which it may slide, while in the core 60 there is a bore intowhich the rod 63 projects and in which it may slide. With thisarrangement the segments 8 and 9 are caused to rotate with the shaft 7but the segment 9 may be adjusted along the shaft 7. The core 61 isfurther provided with a collar 64 of insulating material which collar ismounted at the end of the core 61 in such a manner that the core 61 mayrotate relatively to the collar 64. The collar 64 is provided with athreaded bearing through which the threaded shaft 65, see Fig. 1,passes. This shaft terminates in a knob 66 and is mounted to rotate inthe frame of the device. By rotating the knob 66, the collar 64 may becaused to travel back and forth, that is, to the right or to the left,Fig. 2, with the result that the core 61. together with the commutator9, may be adjusted back and forth, even while the motor M is rotating.

By adjusting commutator segment 9 relatively to commutator segment 8,the distance between the adjacent ends of the segments may be increasedand decreased. This serves to increase and decrease the time duringwhich roller 10 is between the two segments and hence the time duringwhich contact 23 which controls the amber signal is in engagement withcontact 24. By moving the carriage 12 to the left or to the right thetime interval during which roller 10 is in contact with segments 9 and 8may be varied, thereby adjusting the length of the red and green signalsrelatively to each other. It will thus be seen that by adjustingsegments 9 and 8 relatively to each other the duration of the ambersignal is varied and by adjusting the roller 10 axially relatively tosegments 9 and 8 the respective duration of the red and green signals isadjusted, the amber remaining the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rheostat S is provided with a knob 67, by meansof which the speed of the motor is regulated as previously explained. Onthe left hand end of the shaft 7 there is provided a worm gear 68, whichmeshes with the gear 69. The gear 69 is mounted on the same shaft with aworm '70, which in turn meshes with the gear 71 on the right hand end ofthe shaft 7 for ing the latter.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the whole apparatus is assembled about asuitable base and frame, thus forming a compact portable unit on whichfor the purpose of connecting the controller with the source of powerand with the, signals, suitable terminals 72 are mounted. In connectionwith the construction,there is provided means for indicating theadjustment of the carriage 12 and the adjustment of segment 9 relativelyto the frame. For this purpose a scale plate 73 is attached to the frameand adjacent to it is a strip 74 which is attached at one end to head64, as is indicated at 75, so that the strip moves with the head andsegment 9. The other end of strip 74 cooperates with scale plate 73 toindicate the adjustment of segment 9. Car ried by carriage 12 is apointer 76 which cooperates with the scale plate to indicate theadjustment of the carriage. The lower portion of the pointer is bentaround under strip 74 to form a support for the free end of strip 74.This is indicated more clearly in Fig. 3.

The operation as described is such, therefore, that the R and A signalsoverlap at one time and the G and A signals overlap at another. But ifdesired such overlap can obviously be prevented by opening the switches58 and 56. The result of this is that the holding circuits for relays 4and 6 are left open and the R, A and G signals can only operate insequence.

Therefore, by means of a central controller, Fig. 2, a set of signals,or a plurality of sets of signals, one set for each intersection alongthe highway, may be controlled from a common point, from which point thetime intervals of the various signals of each intersection may bevaried. By the provision of relays the energizing circuits of thesignals themselves, such as signals R, A, G, may each be made quiteshort and of moderate size. Otherwise, to avoid excessive drop involtage due to the comparatively high volume of current necessary foroperating the signals over long circuits much larger conductors would benecessary. Furthermore, the provision of a central control means capableof varying the time interval of each of the signals makes it possible toprovide a minimum number of elements. Otherwise, and in order toaccomplish the same result, a much larger number of parts would benecessary in order to insure an adequate number of variations in thesignals.

While I have elected to describe my invention in connection with thespecific forms of drivapparatus illustrated in the drawings, 1 do notwish to be so limited inasmuch as I contemplate under the claimscontained herein variations and modifications within the spirit of theinvention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a signal controller, a pair of commutator segments mounted torotate about an axis, said segments being disposed in a slantingdirection between two parallel planes extending transverse said axis, abrush mounted between said planes to make contact with the segmentsalternately as they rotate about said axis, and means for moving one ofthe segments with respect to the other along said axis for varying thewidth of the space between such segments whereby the ratio of the timeinterval of engagement between the brush and one of the commutators isadjusted.

2. A signal controller comprising a commutator mounted on a shaft, meansfor r0- tating said shaft and commutator, said commutator comprising apair of metal segments, each segment having a surface concentric withsaid shaft, said segments overlapping each other along a region locatedbetween two planes parallel to each other and extending transverse saidshaft, said segments being insulated from each other, a brush mounted toengage said segments alternately at a point between said planes, meansfor adjusting said brush along said shaft between said planes, means foradjusting one of said segments with respect to the other along saidshaft and a circuit contact under the control of the brush, the segmentsof the commutator being separated in the path of the brush between saidplanes and a depression between the segments whereby the controlleroperates as a cam to raise and lower the brush to open and close saidcontacts.

3. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, said cylinder being cutin two along a plane extending transverse of and slanting with respectto said axis to form two commutator segments overlapping each otherbetween two parallel planes, the latter extending across said axis, saidsegments being insulated from each other, and means for adjusting saidsegments with respect to each other along said axis.

4. A circuit controller'comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separated from each other between said planes and along a planeslanting across said axis, said brush being mounted to engage saidsegments alternately along-a i eeann? plane perpendicular to said axisas the cylinder rotates, and adjusting means for moving one of saidsegments along said axis to vary the distance between the two segmentsalong said perpendicular plane.

5. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separated from each other between said planes and along a planeslant-ing across said axis, said brush being mounted to engage saidsegments alternately along a plane perpendicular to said axis as thecylinder rotates, adjusting means for moving one of said segments alongsaid axis to vary the distance between the two segments along saidperpendicular plane, and means for adjusting said brush along said axisbetween said parallel planes to vary the position of the perpendicularplane of engagement between the brush and the segments.

6. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separated from each other between said planes and along a planeslanting across said axis, said brush being mounted to engage saidsegments alternately along a plane perpendicular to said axis as thecylinger rotates, adjusting means for moving one of said segments alongsaid axis to vary the distance between the two segments along saidperpendicular plane, and means for adjusting said brush along said axisbetween said parallel planes to vary the position of the perpendicularplane of engagement between the brush and the segments, said brush beingmounted to move in one direction when it engages one of said segmentsand in the reverse direction when it leaves said segment, and a circuitinterrupter under the control of said brush whereby a circuit may beopened and closed as the brush is moved back and forth by thecommutator.

7. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separated from each other between said planes and along a planeslanting across said axis, said brush and cylinder be ing mounted torotate one with respect to the other about said axis whereby the brushmay engage the segments alternately in cycles along a planeperpendicular to said axis, and means for moving one of said segmentswith respect to the other along said axis to vary the distance betweenthe segments along said perpendicular plane to vary the ratio of theintervals of engagement of the brush and the segments.

8. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separated from each other between said planes and along a planeslanting across said axis, said brush and cylinder being mounted torotate one with respect to the other about said axis whereby the brushmay engage the segments alternately in cycles along a planeperpendicular to said axis, and means for moving the brush along saidaxis to vary the plane of engagement between the contact and thesegments whereby the ratio of the intervals of engagement between thebrush and the segments may be varied.

9. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, said cylinder being cutin two along a plane extending transverse of and slanting with respectto said axis to form two commutator segments overlapping each otherbetween two parallel planes, the latter extending across said axis, saidsegments being insulated from each other, means for adjusting saidsegments with respect to each other along said axis, and index means forindicating the amount of movement between the segments.

10. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush for saidcommutator, said brush being located between two parallel planesextending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of two metalsections separate from each other between said planes and along a planeslanting across said axis, said brush being mounted to engage saidsegments alternately along a plane perpendicular to said axis as thecylinder rotates, adjusting means for moving one of said segments alongsaid axis to vary the distance between the two segments along saidperpendicular plane, means for adjusting said brush along said axisbetween said parallel planes to vary the position of the perpendicularplane of engagement between the brush and the segments, and index meansfor indicating the degree of movement of the brush along said axis.

11. A circuit controller comprising a commutator, said commutator beingin the form of a cylinder mounted about an axis, a brush.

for said commutator, said brush being located between two parallelplanes extending across said axis, said cylinder being formed of twometal sections separated from each other between said planes and along aplane slanting across said axis, said brush being mounte to engage saidsegments alternately along a plane perpendicular to said axis as thecylinder rotates, adjusting means for moving one of said segments alongsaid axis to vary the distance between the two segments along saidperpendicular plane, means for adjusting said brush along said axisbetween said parallel planes to vary the position of the perpendicularplane of engagement between the brush and the segments, and index meansfor indicating the amount of movement of the brush along said axis andthe amount of movement of one of said segments with respect to theother.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day ofDecember, 1929.

HARRY W. VICKERY.

